Happy Second Saturday, people of Beacon (and beyond)! It feels like the year-end rush of fun options is upon us, including a lot of art gallery show openings. Some exhibitions run through the end of the year, but don't hold off on visiting. This season is not known for shorter to-do lists! We've got it all covered in Beacon's most comprehensive Art Gallery Guide.
Game plan: First, fuel up with goodies at Urgent Knead: For Goodness Bake Reboot (remember, those delicious treats and beverages are for a good cause! It *is* the season of giving, after all). Then get to the galleries. Reflections on nature, and expressions of it, are a thread in openings this month. There's the Hudson River canoe voyage in the gallery at the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, warm plein air landscapes at Bannerman Island Gallery, fall views in the Beacon Photography Group: Autumn in the Hudson Valley show at the Howland Public Library. More oblique nods to nature and fleeting encounters can be found at Oak Vino Wine Bar and No. 3 Reading Room & Photo Book Works. Get the scoop on all of these shows and so. many. more. in our Second Saturday Art Gallery Guide.
A giant thank you to BeaconArts (BACA) for promoting the arts in our city. Also, shout out to the sponsors of A Little Beacon Blog - we couldn't produce this without you. To our readers - thank you for supporting the businesses who support us!
It's November's Second Saturday and it's time to see what new work Beacon's local art galleries have in store. Take a peek now at our Art Gallery Guide to decide what you want to see. Have you checked out Beacon's Free Bus, the Beacon Loop, yet? It's really easy! It can get you around town lickity-split! Hail it from literally anywhere on Main Street, and it will scoop you up and put you down where you want.
PS: An update to yesterday's protest in Beacon: about 200 reportedly participated in the local event, which was one of 900 protests across the country regarding the resignation of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General and his temporary replacement. Read all about it here and see pictures >
Alright... Let's see what you're doing this weekend! First of all, there's that can't-miss bake sale for a cause, For Goodness Bake, which is still accepting baked goods! See here for details...
The For Goodness Bake Bake Sale
Day: Saturday, November 10, 2018 Time: 10 am to 4 pm Location: 145 Main St., Beacon, NY
(aka Beacon Healing Massage & Create Space)
The For Goodness Bake event is a Beacon staple, and has become an annual event throughout the years. Started by Kristen Pratt and Tara Tornello, the community-sourced bake sale raises money for one particular cause that has demonstrated an urgent need in the community. Say Kristen and Tara for this year: “We wanted to raise funds to help keep a beloved Beacon family together. For four years, this local family (who must remain anonymous) has helped to nurture a little boy who needed a home. Now his future and their family are in jeopardy as they face a difficult fight for his rights.” See A Little Beacon Blog's article for details and pictures
(we even have sneak-peek photos of fresh-out-of-the-oven yummies!) >
VintageMania Pop-Up Shop
Day: Saturday, November 10, 2018 Time: 11 am to 8 pm Location: A Little Beacon Space, 291 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
The Mitten - Encore Performance
Day: Saturday, November 10, 2018 Time: 11 am and 3 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Stanley Lindwasser 2018 Exhibition at Oak Vino
Day: Saturday, November 10, 2018 Time: 6 to 8 pm Location: Oak Vino, 357 Main St., Beacon, NY
This Beacon-based artist only comes out to exhibit once per year. The rest of the days, he is painting in his backyard shed with his two dogs and loving family. Meet this 71-year-old career painter who relocated to Beacon last year, and continues to be inspired by the Hudson Valley. Read what Chronogram said about him in this feature. Information >
"Autumn in the Hudson Valley" Opening Reception
Day: Saturday, November 10, 2018 Time: 5 to 7 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Howland Chamber Music Circle presents Modigliani Quartet
Day: Sunday, November 11, 2018 Time: 4 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.
WHEN: Saturday, November 10, 2018 TIME: 11 am to 9 pm LOCATION: A Little Beacon Space, 291 Main St., Beacon NY, 12508
The '90s Pop-Up Shop VintageMania! A one-stop shop for your '90s nostalgic needs! They are SUPER excited to open The Space for you. The VintageMania peeps have an agenda for the day - this will be quite an experience! Find Starter jackets. Windbreakers. Sports apparel. Snapbacks. WWF tees. Character tees. Toys. Home décor. Watches. Video games. Accessories. Agenda: Shopping PLUS video games in the morning, Pokémon giveaways in the afternoon, and trivia at 6 pm! Door prizes and giveaways ALL DAY!
The Spiral: Giving Thanks Through Body, Breath & Sound
Day: Saturday, November 10, 2018 Time: 1 to 4 pm Location: The Dancing Web, 46 Buchanan St., Beacon, NY Information >
For a full list of upcoming classes, classes during the week, and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide.
Art & Zine Club Meetup Day: Friday, November 9, 2018 Time: 3:30 to 5 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Saturday Studio for Kids at Dia:Beacon
Day: Saturday, November 10, 2018 Time: 10:30 am to noon Location: DIA: Beacon, 3 Beekman St., Beacon, NY Information >
For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Kids Classes Guide.
Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company)
We've heard your questions - "But does Luxe Optique accept insurance?" Luxe Optique has a new app that makes it easy to find out what your insurance will pay for out-of-network purchases and eye exams. Luxe Optique can work with your insurance, and it's worth it. Plus, you get 15% off your order just for trying! Literally, 15% off just for having them look up your insurance on their nifty tablet, as demonstrated here by Ryon and Jessica.
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light) HOP & SHOP! Save The Date!
An extended weekend of shopping is coming to Beacon for the holidays, and Lambs Hill is a part of it! The event is called Hop and Shop Beacon, and is Thursday and Friday, December 13 and 14. Night shopping is so special during the holidays, when the lights are on and the shops are warm and cozy. During that winter weekend, several shops will be open later. See the "Hop and Shop" page for details.
Please email us when you move into this home, because we already want to visit! We took a drive to this house - it has four fireplaces by the way - and the listing isn't kidding about stunning views of Mount Beacon. This house feels like a country home, is beautiful inside and out, and can fit a family. While it feels country, it is quite close to downtown Beacon. You are within walking distance to one of the best breakfast sandwiches at Bob's Corner Store. Call or email JonCar Realty to view the home: (845) 831-3331 or joncarrealty@yahoo.com. Details + Pictures >
Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency Susan Pagones and Vince Lemma were main sponsors of the Beacon Historical Society's "Beacons of History" fundraiser last night. We were there too, and were so fortunate and honored to attend with Susan and Vince, and to hear so many stories from Susan herself about Beacon's history. Supporting the community has always been a top priority of Antalek & Moore. Pictured here are the honorees, Ronnie Beth Sauers and B.P.O.E. Lodge #1493.
Tis the season for holiday pop-up shops and parties! Looking for a space for your special event? There is still time to book with A Little Beacon Space.
Want to host your pop-up shop at A Little Beacon's Space? How about Black Friday weekend? See here for details.
Beacon Chamber of Commerce
The Beacon Chamber of Commerce is available to all businesses in Beacon, as well as others nearby. Membership and event opportunities are awesome ways to help connect businesses. Learn More >
BeaconArts
Your membership with BeaconArts is important to provide funding, support and expertise for achieving BeaconArts’ vision and mission. Volunteers are important to the success of the many BeaconArts activities and are the backbone of BeaconArts’ achievements. If you would like to make a donation to one of their sponsored projects, click here.
Tin Shingle
Are you trying to get the word out about your business, but don't know where to focus? Tin Shingle is a training platform for how to do this, and also offers private training sessions if you just need to focus and align your efforts in a one-on-one setting. Learn More >
Katie James Inc.
Katie James Inc. is a couture branding agency located in Beacon, and is the parent company and designers behind A Little Beacon Blog and Tin Shingle. If you like what you see here, hire Katie James Inc. for your branding needs. Specialties include Website Design (Squarespace), Newsletter Design, SEO Writing, Ghost Writing, Print Design and Production. Learn More >
Advertise With A Little Beacon Blog
The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps make local news get produced. You can be part of making it happen, and get your business in front of the community in a meaningful way.
The For Goodness Bake event is a Beacon staple, and has become an annual event throughout the years. Started by Kristen Pratt and Tara Tornello, the community-sourced bake sale raises money for one particular cause that has demonstrated an urgent need in the community (see below for info on how you can bake). This year, the highly anticipated bake sale is on Saturday, November 10, from 10 am to 3 pm at 145 Main St. in Beacon (aka Beacon Healing Massage and Create Space), near Bank Square Coffeehouse.
Say Kristen and Tara as to what inspired them to put on their aprons: “We wanted to raise funds to help keep a beloved Beacon family together. For 4 years, this local family (who must remain anonymous) has helped to nurture a little boy who needed a home. Now his future and their family are in jeopardy as they face a difficult fight for his rights within a legal system that consistently puts political interests above the best outcomes for children.”
How This Bake Sale Works
Bakers from around the Hudson Valley will join the fundraising efforts by donating a variety of sweet and savory baked goods. Pay-what-you-can beverages and coffee will be provided by Drink More Good and Trax Espresso Bar & Coffee Roasters.
Now in its sixth year, For Goodness Bake has previously raised nearly $15,000 for local causes, including the Beacon After School Program Tuition Assistance Fund, the Beacon Community Kitchen, Green Teen Beacon, and the Kids R Kids Feeding Program.
To learn more about the event or to get involved, call (845) 518-4194 or email forgoodnessbakebeacon@gmail.com.
INSIDER TIP! They are accepting baked goods up until the last minute. So if you have mad baking skills, use ‘em! I have done it (I am not a baker) and it was a wonderful initiative to be a part of.
Simply drop off to to Kristen and Tara tonight (Friday) at 145 Main from 6 to 8 pm, or Saturday from 7 to 8 am.
If you are reading this article after the bake sale has ended, but want to offer to bake for another one, email forgoodnessbakebeacon@gmail.com and ask to be added to their notification list.
Yesterday we reported that people were gathering at Polhill Park in Beacon to protest the appointment of Matthew Whitaker to temporarily replace Jeff Sessions as Attorney General, after Sessions submitted his resignation letter (as requested by the president, according to the first sentence in the letter Jeff Sessions submitted). A participant sent in an estimate of 200 people in attendance at Beacon’s protest, one of 900 that happened across the country.
As a bring-you-up-to-speed if you need it, Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation which is a look by federal authorities into if and how Russia influenced the 2016 election, and if the current president played a part in that in any way. Sessions has continued to do work that the president has directed him to do, but the president has openly resented Sessions for his recusal. Matthew Whitaker was the Chief of Staff under Sessions, and has vocalized wanting to end the Russia investigation. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has been protective of continuing the Russia investigation.
From a participant, Air Nonken Rhodes, we have a description of Beacon’s event, and pictures that Air took. In Air’s words:
About 200 people in total were there at the time of its largest crowd (5:30 pm), and about 80 people were there most of the rest of the time from 5 to 6:30 pm. Kids, grandparents, commuters coming off the train, people with their dogs, everyone showed up with signs and spirit to stand up against what we see as a power grab.
Conversations included how scary it is to see the checks and balances in our democracy unravel. The mood was generally light, with lots of hooting and hollering with joy whenever a car would honk in support. The commuter traffic going by was generally supportive of our signs.
A small minority shook their heads or gave thumbs-down, a dozen or so going out of their way to roll down their window in the cold air to shout curse-riddled invectives and diatribes against the protestors. A few were stunningly hateful, and took some careful explaining for the kids present. It was deeply sad to see this Trumpish incivility on our own Main Street.
One kid standing next to me asked, “Are we allowed to be here? Are we allowed to do this?” (meaning protest) and her mother explained proudly, “Yes, as Americans we have the free right of peaceable assembly and the right of free speech. We are allowed to be here and do this, and it’s very important to do so whenever something goes wrong. The President doesn’t think the rules apply to him, and we have to remind him that they do.”
When: Thursday, November 8, 5 pm Where: Polhill Park, intersection of Route 9D & Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 What: Citizens protest against President Trump replacing Attorney General Jeff Sessions with Matt Whitaker
On your drive or walk home from work, if you notice a gathering of people at the intersection of Main Street and 9D known as Polhill Park, they have gathered there in protest against President Trump replacing Attorney General Jeff Sessions with Matt Whitaker, who as of yesterday, was the Chief of Staff under Sessions. This protest is one of about 900 scheduled across the country, encouraged by MoveOn.org, categorized under the theme “Nobody’s Above The Law”.
Air Nonken Rhodes, a citizen from Beacon, wrote into A Little Beacon Blog to alert us about the event, and had this to say about attending: “We are standing up against Trump's appointment of Matt Whitaker as acting Attorney General because we see it as a clear move to thwart the power of the Mueller investigation… [It is my opinion that] Whitaker has been appointed not because he will make a good acting AG, but because he will protect the President. If Trump has nothing to hide, he would allow the investigation to continue. The American public (and people around the world) have the right to know the truth about the financing and influences in the 2016 election, Russia's interference in it, and Trump's personal, family, and business connections to these issues.”
“Our talented local reporters are members of the communities they cover, committed to telling the stories that impact the daily lives of their friends and neighbors. News 12 is an incredibly important resource for our viewers, and we’re excited to bring our tradition of on-the-ground hyper-local journalism to more viewers in the Hudson Valley,” said Stan Kowalski, Assistant News Director for News 12 Hudson Valley / Westchester.
If you are looking to make the news to get the word out about something, the first thing you should do is scour the website to see what kind of segments they do, who does them, and how. If you want to pitch the media but don’t know how, hook up with A Little Beacon Blog’s sister company, Tin Shingle, via their newsletter, which teaches you how to pitch the media. You could try reaching out to their news desk via email - news12hv@news12.com - or by phone: (845) 624-8780.
Otherwise, for those who still have cable (I do!), you can put this and Beacon’s municipal channel on “Last” on your remote control and just bounce between the two. Or HGTV, or the Big10 Network, or Disney, or Starz. Whatever you’ve got on.
Local news coverage is getting more options here in Beacon and the Hudson Valley. Luminary Media, the creators of longtime favorite for the arts, Chronogram, have launched an online “newsroom” to add to local coverage for the Hudson Valley.
Driving their mission is expanding access to local news. According to their About page: “Locally, we’re fortunate to have some great community-based local weeklies, owned and created in the Hudson Valley. But only some of our communities are lucky in this way. In fact, many areas in the Hudson Valley have no local coverage, and others don’t have more community coverage than afforded by the police blotter or random Facebook posts.”
The River promises to provide coverage “from Newburgh to Hudson, from Woodstock to Beacon.” You can visit it anytime on their website, or subscribe to it via their newsletter. Of course Beacon has local news outlets like A Little Beacon Blog (minus the police blotter… We don’t get into that), Highlands Current, The Beacon Free Press (though not online much), The Valley Table (based on Main Street Beacon), edible Hudson Valley, The Poughkeepsie Journal (though you can hardly read the articles between the video and ad pop-ups, and they throttle number of articles), News Channel 12 (on channel 63 on cable), and engaging Instagram accounts like EatingBeacon and Beacon Transplant.
The River Is A Newsroom On Civil, A Blockchain Newsroom Of The People
Journalism as a whole is always evolving. Local journalism is always evolving extra quickly, fighting to survive, sometimes with funding, sometimes without. Sometimes local journalists write for free, sometimes there are sponsors and advertising campaigns that help it all continue. Local journalism is actually super fun to be involved in.
However, in order to keep doing it, publications need to get creative in how they get funding. Enter a new media company, Civil, a “blockchain” newsroom powered by cryptocurrency with no ownership: Well, no ownership in theory… There’s a constitution explaining this, and a work-in-progress Beginner’s Guide that is a public Google Doc explaining how it works.
The River is a newsroom running on Civil, which is a company started by journalists and marketing professionals, inspired by decades of events that cloud publishing and advertising. Most recently, sadly, the total wiping out of huge local media companies Gothamist and DNAInfo. The publisher of these online publications didn’t want his editors and journalists to unionize, and in a tizzy, took them offline, wiping out history of local coverage including real estate development disputes, landlord investigations, politics, events, openings, new business stories, and more. Poof, gone. Years of journalists’ work was wiped out. Which gives rise to print and local newspapers that often get underappreciated, yet archived in libraries.
So journalists today are pretty emotionally and professionally damaged by the decisions of some publishers, and it is no wonder why they seek a publisher-free news outlet on which to publish their stories. According to Civil’s CEO, “Civil is building a newsroom platform using blockchain technology and cryptoeconomics to create an open marketplace for journalists and citizens. In Civil’s self-governing marketplace, readers may directly sponsor journalists, and journalists collaboratively run their own publications, called Newsrooms.”
Will This New Blockchain Newsroom Work?
Anything blockchain-related seems to be pretty high-concept. The premise behind an ad-free newsroom is noble, but as with everything, decisions come down to people and relationships. Even if a journalist is sponsored by a citizen, that citizen may accumulate a lot of special dollars-not-dollars called CVL Tokens, which is Civil’s currency in how journalists get paid.
We are witnessing a destabilization of social media-based gathering places for information - which started out as a hands-off, uncensored way to micro-publish information by anyone. However, we are witnessing a change, as Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and others are removing posts and accounts. Some regular-person admins of groups enact grand gestures of power by locking a group or deleting it entirely, thereby paralyzing anyone who had posts on it that wants them removed and cannot, as per Facebook’s rules. The overuse or misuse of power may not only reside with publishers, and may be a human thing.
In the meantime, The River’s new source of news is a welcome addition to what we can find out about facets of life here in the Hudson Valley. Go sign up.
To my surprise, my very own husband called to ask me this: “How do I vote? Are there levers?”
Levers? No. Ok, so here’s what it’s like to vote in Beacon:
You walk into your polling precinct, aka “place to vote” as I call it. This is determined by “Ward.” There are four Wards in Beacon. It’s like big borders, and you live within a border of one of them. Within a Ward, there may be a smaller zone called a “District.” You probably never think about these things until Voting Day, but usually that little yellow card that comes in the mail prior to election time tells you. The last time I saw a card was during the primaries this year. You can get a list of polling locations in Beacon here.
Once you get to your voting location, there are several tables set up inside. The tables are divided by District (that border within a Ward) and by name (in alphabetical order). You will find your name at one of them.
You may be asked: “What District are you in?” If you checked the locations list here, you’ll know. “I’m in District 2!” you could say, and volunteers will tell you what table you should go to next. However, if you don’t know what District you are in (like me), there is hopefully a table dedicated to District Discovery at your polling place just for telling you this information. (Insider Tip: Check this first! It will save you from waiting in a line).
Once it’s your turn in line, a volunteer will hand you a large voting card with a privacy sleeve. You’ll walk over to tall table/desks with metal privacy walls around the top of the desk. A pen is provided for you to mark your circle bubbles of your votes. The directions at the top of the voting card will tell you how many people to vote for in each race. Like for governor, you would vote for one person. For judges, you would vote for seven names. Just follow those directions at the top to make sure you’re not over- or under-filling in the circles.
When you’ve completed all of your circles, you walk it over to a scanning machine. Another volunteer will be there to make sure the machine doesn’t break, because you are feeding the machine with your voter card yourself. Once you slide your card into the machine, it tallies it, swallows your card, and tells you what number voter you were.
I was #60!
Thank You To The Volunteers
A HUGE thank you for the volunteers who are running these polls. If when you go to vote, and you wish it were run differently, or had better signs, it’s best not to take your frustration out on the volunteers. They are your friends and neighbors, and may not be as experienced at running an event as you are. Same goes for any event run in Beacon (or anywhere in the world). If you feel passionately about how something is organized, then it’s best you sign up to volunteer, and help make it a better experience for all of us.
EDITORIAL NOTE: This article has been updated to reflect how to vote in the election on November 6, 2018.
Wondering where to go vote this Tuesday, November 6, 2018? Did you toss your yellow card by accident? Below is a list of locations for where to cast your ballot based on where you live and are registered.
Lewis Tompkins Hose Company Route 9D Entrance, 13 South Ave. Beacon, NY 12508
Rombout Middle School 84 Matteawan Road Beacon, NY 12508
James V. Forrestal Elementary School 125 Liberty St. Beacon, NY 12508
First Presbyterian Church 50 Liberty St. Beacon, NY 12508
LOCATIONS
Ward 1, District 1: Lewis Tompkins Hose Company Ward 1, District 2: Rombout Middle School Ward 2, All Districts: Lewis Tompkins Hose Company Ward 3, District 1: Rombout Middle School Ward 3, Districts 2 and 3: James V. Forrestal Elementary Ward 4, All Districts: First Presbyterian Church
District - Which District in Which Ward?
Voters can determine what District they’re in either by looking at the yellow voter card that arrived by mail, or by looking at the map on this website:
The VoterLookUp tool will tell you what District you are in, as well as which Ward, Senate District, County Legislative District, Assembly District, and Congressional District apply to you.
Can I Vote in The Primary Elections?
Two answers to this:
You’ll need to be registered in Beacon if you’re not already. You only need to do this once for each move. If you got the little yellow card in the mail telling you where to vote, you’re good. Otherwise, look yourself up at this VoterLookUp web page.
You’ll need to be registered in a party if you want to vote in the primary elections. If you’re registered to vote, but didn’t officially declare a party on your registration, then you can’t vote in the primaries for your party. You also can’t sign name collection forms from politicians looking to get onto the ballot, BTW. You would need to be registered in their party. You will, however, have gotten a little yellow card in the mail, even if you haven’t officially affiliated with a party.
You do not need to be affiliated or registered with a party (Independent, Republican, Democrat, Green Party, Working Families, etc.) to vote in the General Election. You do need to be registered to vote, however, based on where you live (see above).
Or, you can register to vote with friendly people around town who have set up registration stations. Some that we know of:
The Howland Public Library
The Spirit of Beacon Day Parade 2018. Look for a table from “We All Vote”
The annual Sukkah that happens each fall down at Polhill Park (the park across from Bank Square and Beacon Creamery where the Visitors Center is)
There is a deadline to register to vote - you’ll want to be all buttoned up by Sunday, September 30, if you’re doing it via the folks above. They are physically driving the registration forms to their destination in Poughkeepsie. “We are driving them to Poughkeepsie so we don’t give people stamps.
There are lots of rules about this,” says Ronna Litchtenberg, a volunteer with When We All Vote. Or, people can take the form home and mail it in themselves. “But we’re making it easy on you,” says Kelly Ellenwood, another volunteer. “We’ll hand-deliver it to Poughkeepsie to make sure it gets there.”
But don’t let it slide by again. In a small city town, your vote really does make a difference. "One vote matters, especially in Beacon where elections have been decided on by as few as 10 votes,” says Ronna.
It’s the season for the Beacon Players amazing theatrical productions, and program sponsorship opportunities! The Beacon Players are the theatrical group of the Beacon High School. The opportunities afforded to kids for working behind the scenes on the set, or being an actor or actress are amazing.
If you work in a storefront, some cast and crew may be coming to your door. But if you miss them, contact Beacon Players by visiting their website to sponsor the program or more!
Balmy with a touch of red leaf foliage! Thank you Beacon Recreation for the Fall Foliage Tracking! Let's see what's going on in and around Beacon this weekend...
Salsa Dance Social
Day: Friday, November 2, 2018 Time: 7 pm (dance lesson), 8 pm (dance) Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
B House Performance Garage/Shack Presents
Dave Malloy's Ghost Quartet
Day: Friday and Saturday, November 2 & 3, 2018 Time: 8 pm Information >
Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps Kids Halloween Party
Day: Saturday, November 3, 2018 Time: 6 pm Location: Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 1 Arquilla Drive, Beacon, NY Information >
Honey Drop Sessions - A Night of Sweetness & Song
Day: Saturday, November 3, 2018 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
“Hudson Valley Artists Mentors” Opening Reception
Day: Sunday, November 4, 2018 Time: 1:30 to 4:30 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Goods and Services Auction
Day: Sunday, November 4, 2018 Time: 3 to 7 pm Location: Wappinger Elks #2609, 1195 Route 376, Wappingers Falls, NY Information >
Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in ourEvents Guide.
The Free Tuesday/Thursday Seniors Program
at the Salvation Army
Day: Thursday is craft day; Tuesday/Thursday include free meals Holiday Note: There will again be a free Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas Celebration for Seniors. Information >
For a full list of upcoming classes, classes during the week, and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide.
NEW
Saturday Studio for Kids at Dia: Beacon
Day: Second Saturdays (make a note for next week!) Time: 10:30 am to 12 pm Location: 3 Beekman St., Beacon, NY Information >
For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Kids Classes Guide.
Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company)
You can never go wrong with classic black frames. We love these Inspired frames by Yves Saint Laurent. Do stop by and check out Luxe Optique's expansion! And book your next eye exam with them in their doctor's office. So convenient!
The Carriage House/Renovated 1895 Home Combo is one of the most dreamy, sought-after property listings in Beacon right now. This property requires a perfect match of a buyer - one that may thrive in a live/work space, or other setup that benefits from the bright, open space inside of the carriage house, while living in the renovated 1895 home beside it with a custom kitchen and Capital gourmet stove. Located near the Hudson River and within walking distance of Beacon's Main Street. Are you the perfect match? Call or email JonCar Realty to view it: (845) 831-3331 or joncarrealty@yahoo.com. Details + Pictures >
Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency
Take a moment today to put down the phone while driving, asks Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency, LLC. Any texting, or even checking your map, could be one distraction too many. Need a change in insurance or want to go cheaper? Call Antalek & Moore any time to find a new insurance company for you: (845) 831-4300
SAVE THE DATE 291 Main Street - A Little Beacon Blog's Space
!! VINTAGEMANIA !! '90s Vintage, Trivia, DJ and More!
Second Saturday, November 10, 2018 (One day only!)
Elite Coast Vintage and Pinot and Pine are teaming up for the ultimate '90s experience for this One-Day Pop-Up Event in A Little Beacon Space! Starter jackets, sportswear, old-school wrestling tees, throwback cartoon merch, home décor, vintage toys, accessories - and MORE!
11 to 2 pm - SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS!
Stop by, grab a bowl of cereal and watch some old-school cartoons with us.
2 to 5 pm - POKEMON GO COMMUNITY DAY APPRECIATION!
Free Pokémon decal with ANY purchase, no minimum required.
6 pm - '90S MUSIC TRIVIA
Five teams will compete for the title of '90s Music Experts! Each participant gets a prize, with special gifts for the winners, and other raffles! More Details - Save The Date >
Want to host your pop-up shop at A Little Beacon's Space? How about Black Friday Weekend? See here for details.
Beacon Chamber of Commerce
The Beacon Chamber of Commerce is available to all businesses in Beacon, as well as others. Membership and event opportunities are a great way to help connect businesses. Learn More >
BeaconArts
Earlier this week, A Little Beacon Blog received an email about this bear and this winged red piano that sits in Beacon. The piano is part of a public art project from BeaconArts. The bear is part of the love note we received from a reader this week. Read The Love Note >
Tin Shingle
Are you trying to get the word out about your business, but don't know where to focus? Tin Shingle is a training platform for how to do this, and also offers private training sessions if you just need to focus and align your efforts in a one-on-one setting. Learn More >
Katie James, Inc.
Katie James, Inc. is a couture branding agency located in Beacon, and is the parent company and designers behind A Little Beacon Blog and Tin Shingle. If you like what you see here, hire Katie James, Inc. for your branding needs. Specialties include: Website Design (Squarespace), Newsletter Design, SEO Writing, Ghost Writing, Print Design and Production. Learn More >
Advertise With A Little Beacon Blog
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Piano created by the artist Lori Merhige. Photo Credit: Jeff and Anita Cashman
Just because you needed a little love note today, we wanted to pass along to you this email sent by a reader early this week. As you may have noticed, Beacon is decorated right now with pianos in seemingly random locations. You may occasionally hear the sound of Beacon from several street corners as people sit down to play whenever they feel the need. In fact, A Little Beacon Blog has published an essay by Izdihar (Izzy) Dabashi capturing the sounds and beauty of most of the pianos - read it here.
Dear A Little Beacon Blog,
Just wanted to share these photos of our winged bear with you.
We were New York City middle school teachers for 30 years...music and drama. About a month after 9/11, our school received a gift from J.C. Penney - hundreds of teddy bears arrived delivered in giant boxes - one for every student, teacher and employee in our school.
As you can imagine, the teddy bears provided great emotional comfort for all and we have kept our bear all these years.
When we saw the beautiful winged piano in Beacon, we just thought our bear was a perfect match.
Many thanks to all who bring us these beautiful pianos each year... we play each one and look forward to their return next year.
Thank you Little Beacon Blog,
Jeff and Anita Cashman
The organization behind the pianos in Beacon is BeaconArts, known for their public art projects that appear and disappear all over town, all year round.
We have a feature story coming out about this, so stay tuned because that’s where you’ll be able to learn more. In the meantime, enjoy the pianos while they are here. They will be rolled away soon and stored for next year.
The Salvation Army is a Main Street staple. We featured the Salvation Army’s Seniors Program here at A Little Beacon Blog when there was fear of them closing their doors. The leadership at the Salvation Army has changed to Lts. Josue and Leilani Alarcón, and we’re happy to report that the Senior Program is still going strong and is flourishing after 17 years serving the community, according to Rhode Lopez Northrup, who runs the Senior Program.
The Senior Program is for anyone over 50 years of age. They are welcome to come to any Tuesday and Thursday meal, and enjoy activities like taking fun quizzes, games, songs and a crafty projects.
2018 Thanksgiving and Christmas Meals for Seniors
The Seniors Program in the Salvation Army will be hosting an early Thanksgiving Dinner on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. They will also have a Christmas Celebration on Tuesday, December 11, 2018. More details will be added to our Events Guide on each event.
You can learn more about this wonderful program, see more pictures, and learn how to get involved and donate, by checking out this article.
If last night’s Halloween candy didn’t leave you feeling nauseous today, then these two revelations will: A person acting on behalf a neo-Nazi group has posted anti-Semitic flyers to two churches in Beacon: The First Presbyterian Church at 50 Liberty St., just over the Fishkill Creek, and the Salem Tabernacle church, which is located at 7 Delavan Ave., just past Mavis Tire off of Route 52.
After the flyers were posted at the First Presbyterian Church, according to an article by Brian Cronin in the Highlands Current, Pastor Ben Larson-Wolbrink held up the flyer to his congregation, and said that it was not consistent with Jesus’ teaching to love and serve each other. According to the article, the Presbyterian congregation - which is normally silent during sermons - responded with a hearty “Amen.”
Pastor Ben (as he is known here in Beacon) smiled and chuckled at this out-of-character - but appreciated - outburst: “That’s something Presbyterians really don’t do,” he said with a smile.
The churches are not the only place the flyers showed up. They have been posted to Marist, Vassar, and Dutchess Community College. According to Brian’s reporting, on October 8, 2018, a man in a hooded shirt and rubber gloves was hanging anti-Semitic flyers at Marist College. He was confronted by police. The posters, according to Brian, say that they are sponsored by a local book club, which the Anti-Defamation League identifies as “small crews of young white men who follow and support” a person who started the neo-Nazi group referred to in the beginning of this article.
As reported by Michael Turton today in the Highlands Current, the Nelsonville home of a person of Jewish heritage was vandalized, with a swastika spray-painted onto their under-construction home. In his article, Michael quoted Rabbi Brent Spodek in advising how to cover these types of events: “Rabbi Brent Spodek of the Beacon Hebrew Alliance said he felt it was important for the media to cover anti-Semitic acts but that the focus should not be on whether the suspects are caught. The more important question, he said, is, ‘Where do average people in Nelsonville, Beacon and America stand be in these moments of fear?’ When hate crimes occur, he said, ‘there is no neutral.’ ”
Michael also reported this quote from the Nelsonville Mayor Bill O’Neill: “This hateful vandalism is outrageous and heartbreaking.” According to Michael’s article, the mayor “noted that village residents have expressed revulsion over the incident as well as support for our neighbors who have been subjected to this mindless act.”
According to Brian’s article, Mayor Randy Casale of Beacon said in a “swift” statement after the Beacon postings: “Hate has no place in our community, which is proudly a home to all faiths and backgrounds. This type of behavior will not be tolerated. We are stronger when we work together.”
This evening, One Beacon will be hosting a special interfaith event at The Salem Tabernacle at 7 Delavan Ave. in Beacon, from 6 to 9 pm. Clergy in Beacon planned this event almost two weeks ago as a response to racism and anti-Semitism in our local area.
“When this event was being planned, we had no idea that the topic would continue to be more urgent, as we saw with the mass shooting at the Pittsburgh synagogue last weekend,” said Jacolyn Dandreano, the Office Administrator for the Salem Tabernacle, who is also the pastor Reverend Bill Dandreano’s wife.
The event will include time for dinner together (many will be fasting until dinner on Thursday) as well as reflections and exhortations from several speakers from the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities in Beacon, in addition to Mayor Randy Casale.
Speakers include:
Pastor Bill Dandreano of Salem Tabernacle
Pastor Ben Larson-Wolbrink of First Presbyterian Church
Rabbi Brent Chaim Spodek of Beacon Hebrew Alliance
Imam Abdullah Abdul Wajid of Masjid Ar-Rashid
Pastor Ronald O. Perry of Springfield Baptist Church will be in attendance but will not be speaking.
No sign-up or donation is necessary to attend. Salem Tabernacle is providing the food and venue, and childcare will be available for children ages 9 and under.
InterFaith Alliances And Support Shown In Beacon
Some clergy in Beacon met at the Beacon Hebrew Alliance on Sunday in order to show support to the Jewish community before they headed off to their own services. “Our pastor, Reverend Bill Dandreano, related that many were overwhelmed to the point of tears by the comfort this simple act provided,” said Jacolyn in an email to A Little Beacon Blog. From the event’s postcard:
“One Beacon calls on people of all faith and good conscience to come together to acknowledge our collective capacity for racism, anti-Semitism, as evidenced by the recent flyer attack in Dutchess County.”
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A podcast from A Little Beacon Blog. Your hosts: Katie Hellmuth martin & Brandon Lillard.
The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
Dutchess County Helpline. Open 24/7 to take your calls, listen, and give you resources.
